Chaz Blake tell deputies that the diapers he stole were for his kids

PBSO: Store surveillance leads to arrest

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LAKE WORTH, Fla. - Chaz Blake, who was arrested last week for retail theft, told deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office that he stole diapers and packs of T-shirts because he does not have a job and he needed them.

PBSO had previously been contacted about thefts at the Family Dollar Store at 1206 South Dixie Highway in Lake Worth.

The store manager told deputies that a man inside the store took a 68 count pack of diapers and 6 packs of 3 count white V-neck T-shirts and ran out without paying.

The suspect jumped into a waiting car driven by a woman, according to the store manager.

The manager told deputies that he tried to follow the car but when the speed reached reached 100 mph he returned to the store.

Deputies say that they were able to identify Chaz Blake through photos taken at the store.

Blake tried to hide in the attic of his home when PBSO arrived.

Deputies say that when they confronted Blake he said, "Okay, Okay I'm here. All this for the diapers?"

The diapers and T-shirts were worth $74, according to the Family Dollar Store.

Blake was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on retail theft charges.

WPTV NewsChannel 5 spoke with Blake by phone.

He said he has two children, a two-year-old and an 8-year-old.

He said he stole the diapers because he has been out of work for about a year.

He stole the t-shirts, he says, because he wanted some fresh and clean shirts and to use for work.

Records show Blake has been arrested numerous times in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Blake says he got into trouble when he was younger, and says he is finding it difficult to get and keep a job.

When asked why he didn’t ask a community group to give him diapers or t-shirts for free, he said he didn’t know that was an option.